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Coconut Grove Business Improvement District Board of Directors' Meeting
Park Grove Condominium 2821 South Bayshore Drive, Miami, FL 33133
December 5, 2019 at 9:00 AM
**meeting minutes are not verbatim**
FINAL
Board members in attendance:
Commissioner Ken Russell, BID Board Chairman
Art Noriega
Olaf Kohrsmeyer
Lauren Carra
Donna DeMichael
Steve Keup, via phone
Claire Lardner
Lalo Durazo
Michael Comras
Monty Trainer, non -voting member
Commissioner Russell called the meeting to order at 9:09 AM.
1. Approval of October 9, 2019 Board of Directors' meeting minutes.
Upon a properly made and seconded motion, the board unanimously voted to approve the meeting
minutes of October 9, 2019.
Motion: Olaf Kohrsmeyer
Second: Claire Lardner
2. Approval or denial of the administration's recommendation to accept the draft financial
statement or FY18-19 by auditors SKJT&J and submit the approved audit statement to the
City of Miami Commission for approval.
Richie Tandoc, partner with SKJT&J presented his firm's findings to the board. SKJT&J reported a
clean financial audit with no reported issues. Mr. Tandoc thanked Executive Director Mahony for her
help and assistance in providing all requested documents during the audit. Upon a properly made and
seconded motion, the board unanimously voted to approve and submit the audit statement to the City
of Miami Commission for approval.
Motion: Olaf Kohrsmeyer
Second: Lauren Carra
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3. Approval or denial of the administration's request for approval of a waiver of the formal
requirements set forth in the City of Miami Code of Ordinances, as amended, specifically
Section 18-85, and under Florida Statutes Section 287.057, for BID board ratification by a four -
fifths affirmative vote seeking approval to donate, in an amount not to exceed fifty -thousand
dollars ($50,000.00) to the Coconut Grove Art and Historical Association for the 2020 Coconut
Grove Arts Festival.
Matt Fillioe, Executive Director of the Coconut Grove Art and Historical Association, presented his
organization's request for funding. For the first time, the festival will kick-off with a free musical
performance by Emily Estefan. Donna DeMichael, Michael Comras, and Claire Lardner expressed
concern that the funding request is the largest the BID has ever dispersed to the CGAF. Steve Keup
highlighted last year's hotel occupancy during the weekend of the festival was ninety-six percent on
Friday and was ninety-eight percent on Saturday in making the argument that the festival brings
people into the district from outside the community. Claire Lardner requested the the BID
administration complete a post event survey of the BID businesses to determine the impact of the
festival on their sales. Upon a properly made and seconded motion, the board unanimously voted to
approve the allocation of forty -thousand ($40,000.00) to the Coconut Grove Art and Historical
Association for the 2020 Coconut Grove Arts Festival. Monty Trainer recused himself from the
discussion and vote.
Motion: Claire Lardner
Second: Lauren Carra
4. Approval or denial of the administration's request for approval of a waiver of the formal
requirements set forth in the City of Miami Code of Ordinances, as amended, specifically
Section 18-85, and under Florida Statutes Section 287.057, for BID board ratification by a four -
fifths affirmative vote seeking approval to execute a three (3) year contract with Light -Er -Up,
LLC for the maintenance of the lighting installation in Peacock Park, in an amount not to
exceed thirty-two thousand dollars ($32,000.00).
Stakeholder Fransisco Balli, partner in ownership of Glass & Vine, addressed the board voicing his
support for the approval of the contract. Upon a properly made and seconded motion, the board
unanimously voted to approve the allocation of no more than thirty-two thousand dollars
($32,000.00) to execute a one (1) year contract with the option for two (2) one-year renewals with
Light -Er -Up, LLC for the maintenance of the lighting installation in Peacock Park.
Motion: Lauren Carra
Second: Claire Lardner
5. Approval or denial of the administration's recommendation to donate, in an amount not to
exceed fifty -thousand dollars ($50,000.00) to the City of Miami Police Department for the
licensing, installation, maintenance, and monitoring of the closed circuit television cameras
(CCTV) within the BID boundaries.
Community member Courtney Omega addressed the board voicing her support for the program and
thanked the board for allowing public opinion. Board member Claire Lardner expressed concern that
the cameras could lead to potential civil rights violations, racial profiling, and possible false arrests.
Board member Art Noriega highlighted that protecting businesses is one of the BID's responsibilities
and that the cameras will serve as a deterrent. Upon a properly made and seconded motion, the board
voted 8-1 to approve the administration's recommendation to donate an amount not to succeed fifty -
thousand ($50,000.00) to the City of Miami Police Department for the installation of CCTV.
Motion: Lauren Carra
Second: Art Noriega
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Ayes: Commissioner Ken Russell, Art Noriega, Michael Comras, Steve Keup, Donna
DeMichael, Lauren Carra, Lalo Durazo, Olaf Kohrsmeyer
Nayes: Claire Lardner
6. Presentation by CocoWalk on the request for a waiver of the holiday construction
moratorium.
Cocowalk representative Chris Cobb and Cocowalk legal representative Iris Escarra presented to the
board the construction timeline and necessary maintenance of traffic (MOT) required for the
installation of a Miami -Dade County mandated new water and sewer line in the middle of Virginia
street. The MOT will require a road closure of Virginia street. Cocowalk requested that the board
recommend to the City of Miami that the mandated holiday construction moratorium be waived so
that Cocowalk can work in the public right of way during the holiday season. The following
representatives of businesses impacted by the road closure spoke about their concerns about the
impact to their businesses: Bilai Silar of Sweet Mercy Brewery, Georgia of Silly Monkeys, and
Gaston Legorburu of GlueIq. Sean McKeen, the general manager of the Mayfair Hotel, voiced his
support for the waiver of the construction moratorium. Cocowalk committed to opening up
pedestrian access along Grand Avenue in January 2020 and ten -thousand dollars ($10,000.00) for
parking validations to be used for customers along Virginia Street. The board also directed Executive
Director Abigael Mahony to mediate between Cocowalk and Virginia Street businesses to best
address the business needs during the construction.
Upon a properly made a seconded motion, the board unanimously voted to direct Executive Director
Abigael Mahony to submit the board's recommendation to waive the construction moratorium for
Cocowalk to complete construction in the public right of way during the 2019-2020 holiday season to
the City of Miami Department of Public Works and the City Manager. As Cocowalk's appointee to
the BID board, Michael Comras recused himself from the vote and discussion.
Motion: Lauren Carra
Second: Lalo Durazo
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:22 AM.
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